Aakhri Khat
Encyclopedia
Aakhri Khat is a 1966 Bollywood
film written and directed by Chetan Anand. This is Rajesh Khanna
's first film released, but actually his debut film is Raaz, which was released a year later. The music of the film is by Khayyam and lyrics by Kaifi Azmi
, and the team gave noted songs like, Baharon Mera Jeevan Bhi Sanwaro, sung by Lata Mangeshkar
.The film was critically acclaimed and Khanna was noticed for his performance.Much before Hollywood film Baby's day out was even scripted this film was made.The film was given 5 stars in Bollywood Guide Collections.
Chetan Anand, started the film with a bare outline of a script and a 15-month-old infant who he let loose in the city, following him with his camera, mostly a hand-held camera, taking in all the city sounds, under the cinematic direction of Jal Mistry The film was selected as the Indian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film
at the 40th Academy Awards
, but was not accepted as a nominee.
) is a young sculptor, while vacationing near Kullu
, sees Lajjo (Indrani Mukherjee) and falls in love. Subsequently, they get married secretly in a village temple. He then has to leave for the city to pursue further education. Meanwhile, the girl finds that she is pregnant. On finding this her step mother sells her off for Rs. 500, where she is beaten, some time later she gives birth to a little boy, Buntu. Later Lajjo comes to Mumbai to meet Govind, carrying her one year old son. She leaves a letter for him at his doorsteps, and want to leaves the child as well, is unable to go through it, and takes him along. They keep wandering, and feed off whatever comes their way, soon she dies leaving her son alone.
The rest of the film is a story of the little child, wandering around the city. He goes out of the house, eating whatever he finds, including a pill, which makes him doze off. On waking up, he wanders even more and more into the city. Meanwhile Govind, comes know all through a letter she has left behind, Aakhri Khat (Last Letter), he soon realizes his mistake and with the help of police tries to find his wife and son, though only finds his wife's body. Later, he shows the Police inspector Naik, (Manvendra Chitnis), the statue of Lajjo he has kept in his studio.
The child is then rescued by a man who is a staff member of an orphanage nearby. He escapes from that place at night. And after a long time of wandering here and there, and after the help of some people, he ultimately reaches home to find a statue of his lost mother, and a new lady, who is now his new mother.
disclosed in an interview,"I consider “Aakhri Khat” a memorable film of my initial days. It was out and out a director's project and Chetan Anand, highly imaginative and sensitive director handled the film with expertise. I still clearly remember how cinematographer Jal Mistry shot the song sequence, “Ab Na Ja” on me and Indrani Mukherjee in five to six close ups also picturising the natural panorama of the Himalayas with rare aesthetics and perfection. My most challenging scene in “Aakhri Khat” was the last one where I am in a pensive mood in silence till I recognise my son, Bunty. Chetan Anand used to wake me up with late night phone calls so that my face had the ideal pathos oriented look."
, and with lyrics by Kaifi Azmi
, also marked the debut of Bhupinder Singh
as a solo playback singer
.
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
film written and directed by Chetan Anand. This is Rajesh Khanna
Rajesh Khanna
Rajesh Khanna is an Indian actor of from Hindi films, and has been Hindi film producer and an Indian politician....
's first film released, but actually his debut film is Raaz, which was released a year later. The music of the film is by Khayyam and lyrics by Kaifi Azmi
Kaifi Azmi
Kaifi Azmi was an Indian Urdu poet. He is considered to be one the greatest Urdu poets of 20th century. Together with Pirzada Qasim, Jon Eliya and many others he participated in many memorable mushairas of 20th century.-Early life:...
, and the team gave noted songs like, Baharon Mera Jeevan Bhi Sanwaro, sung by Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional...
.The film was critically acclaimed and Khanna was noticed for his performance.Much before Hollywood film Baby's day out was even scripted this film was made.The film was given 5 stars in Bollywood Guide Collections.
Chetan Anand, started the film with a bare outline of a script and a 15-month-old infant who he let loose in the city, following him with his camera, mostly a hand-held camera, taking in all the city sounds, under the cinematic direction of Jal Mistry The film was selected as the Indian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
at the 40th Academy Awards
40th Academy Awards
The 40th Academy Awards honored film achievements of 1967. Originally scheduled for 8 April 1968, the awards were postponed to two days later, 10 April 1968, because of the assassination of Dr...
, but was not accepted as a nominee.
Plot
Govind (Rajesh KhannaRajesh Khanna
Rajesh Khanna is an Indian actor of from Hindi films, and has been Hindi film producer and an Indian politician....
) is a young sculptor, while vacationing near Kullu
Kullu
Kullu, once known as Kul-anti-peetha - "the end of the habitable world", is the capital town of the Kullu District, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is located on the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Valley about ten kilometres north of the airport at Bhuntar.Kullu is a broad open...
, sees Lajjo (Indrani Mukherjee) and falls in love. Subsequently, they get married secretly in a village temple. He then has to leave for the city to pursue further education. Meanwhile, the girl finds that she is pregnant. On finding this her step mother sells her off for Rs. 500, where she is beaten, some time later she gives birth to a little boy, Buntu. Later Lajjo comes to Mumbai to meet Govind, carrying her one year old son. She leaves a letter for him at his doorsteps, and want to leaves the child as well, is unable to go through it, and takes him along. They keep wandering, and feed off whatever comes their way, soon she dies leaving her son alone.
The rest of the film is a story of the little child, wandering around the city. He goes out of the house, eating whatever he finds, including a pill, which makes him doze off. On waking up, he wanders even more and more into the city. Meanwhile Govind, comes know all through a letter she has left behind, Aakhri Khat (Last Letter), he soon realizes his mistake and with the help of police tries to find his wife and son, though only finds his wife's body. Later, he shows the Police inspector Naik, (Manvendra Chitnis), the statue of Lajjo he has kept in his studio.
The child is then rescued by a man who is a staff member of an orphanage nearby. He escapes from that place at night. And after a long time of wandering here and there, and after the help of some people, he ultimately reaches home to find a statue of his lost mother, and a new lady, who is now his new mother.
Cast
- Rajesh KhannaRajesh KhannaRajesh Khanna is an Indian actor of from Hindi films, and has been Hindi film producer and an Indian politician....
- Govind - Indrani Mukherjee - Lajjo
- Master Bunty - Buntu
- Nana PalsikarNana PalsikarNana Palsikar was an Indian film actor, who appeared in over 80 Hindi films. He made his film debut in 1935 with Dhuwandhar, and went on to play character roles in both Hindi mainstream and arthouse films...
- Manvendra Chitnis - Inspector Naik
- Mohan Choti - Moti (Servant)
- Tun Tun
- Maruti Rao
- Naqi Jehan - Wealthy young woman
Quotes on the film
Rajesh KhannaRajesh Khanna
Rajesh Khanna is an Indian actor of from Hindi films, and has been Hindi film producer and an Indian politician....
disclosed in an interview,"I consider “Aakhri Khat” a memorable film of my initial days. It was out and out a director's project and Chetan Anand, highly imaginative and sensitive director handled the film with expertise. I still clearly remember how cinematographer Jal Mistry shot the song sequence, “Ab Na Ja” on me and Indrani Mukherjee in five to six close ups also picturising the natural panorama of the Himalayas with rare aesthetics and perfection. My most challenging scene in “Aakhri Khat” was the last one where I am in a pensive mood in silence till I recognise my son, Bunty. Chetan Anand used to wake me up with late night phone calls so that my face had the ideal pathos oriented look."
Soundtrack
The soundtrack includes the following tracks, composed by KhayyamMohammed Zahur Khayyam
Mohammed Zahur "Khayyam" Hashmi, better known as Khayyam, is an Indian music composer whose career spanned four decades .He has won three Filmfare Awards for Best Music in 1977 for Kabhi Kabhie and 1982 for Umrao Jaan, and a lifetime achievement award in 2010...
, and with lyrics by Kaifi Azmi
Kaifi Azmi
Kaifi Azmi was an Indian Urdu poet. He is considered to be one the greatest Urdu poets of 20th century. Together with Pirzada Qasim, Jon Eliya and many others he participated in many memorable mushairas of 20th century.-Early life:...
, also marked the debut of Bhupinder Singh
Bhupinder Singh (musician)
Bhupinder Singh is an Indian musician, chiefly a Ghazal singer and Bollywood playback singer.-Early life:Born in Patiala, Punjab to Prof Nattha Singh , a trained vocalist and his early music teacher. He was one of the 7 brothers and sisters...
as a solo playback singer
Playback singer
A playback singer is a singer whose singing is prerecorded for use in movies. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and actors or actresses lip-sync the songs for cameras, while the actual singer does not appear on screen.-South Asia:...
.
| Song | Singer (s) |
|---|---|
| Aur Kuchh Der Thahar | Mohd. Rafi |
| Baharon Mera Jeevan Bhi Sanwaro | Lata Mangeshkar Lata Mangeshkar Lata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional... |
| Mere Chanda Mere Nanhe | Lata Mangeshkar Lata Mangeshkar Lata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional... |
| O My Darling | Manna Dey Manna Dey Prabodh Chandra Dey , better known by his nickname Manna Dey , is a playback singer in Bengali Assamese and Hindi films. Along with Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Mukesh, he was a part of Indian film playback music from the 1950s to the 1970s. He has recorded more than 3500 songs over the course of... |
| Rut Jawan Jawan Raat Mehrbaan | Bhupinder Singh Bhupinder Singh (musician) Bhupinder Singh is an Indian musician, chiefly a Ghazal singer and Bollywood playback singer.-Early life:Born in Patiala, Punjab to Prof Nattha Singh , a trained vocalist and his early music teacher. He was one of the 7 brothers and sisters... |
See also
- List of submissions to the 40th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Indian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film